Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series FAQ’s

YCS Information

• How much does it cost to enter the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?
• Are there any pack prizes apart from the five packs that everyone gets?
• What is the format for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?
• How many rounds will the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series have?
• How many Duelists will advance to Day 2?
• How many Duelists will advance to the Top Cut?
• What will I need to bring to a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament?
• If I’ve never been to a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament, what should I expect?
• I will be bringing my children to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series. Is there anything I should know?
• Will the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series have Yu-Gi-Oh! Very Important Player’s (VIP’s) and how do I qualify to be one?
• Will the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series have the Bounty Feature?
• Will there be meal breaks during the tournament?
• What if someone who came with me does not know how to play?
• What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes?

Invitations and Prizes

• Do I need an invitation to participate in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?
• If I am not from the United States or Canada and I win the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, do I get to play in the 2020 North American World Championship Qualifier?
• If I qualified in a Dragon Duel tournament (for Duelists born 2006 or later) can I play in the regular World Championship Qualifier?
• What are the prizes for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?
• What is the Top Cut Game Mat and Prize Card?
• How and when will I receive my Invite?
• Is travel or hotel included with my Invite?
• Is the travel and accommodation just for the winner?

World Qualifying Points

• If I make the top cut will I earn World Qualifying Points at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?
• How do I find more information about World Qualifying Points?

Card Legality

• What cards are legal for play?
• Can I use OCG cards (cards printed for use in Japan and other Asian territories) in my Deck?
• Can I use foreign language cards in my Deck?

Public Events

• What are the different types of Public Events?
• What are the point values for the Public Events?
• What is a Swiss Round Tournament?
• What is a Single-Elimination Tournament?
• How do I earn Ultimate Duelist Series (UDS) Points at the YCS
• What is a Dragon Duel?
• What is the Format for the Dragon Duel Casual Sealed event?
• What are the prizes for the Dragon Duel Casual Sealed event?
• Does the Dragon Duel Casual Sealed event affect the Dragon Duel Championship?
• What are the prizes for the Dragon Duel?
• What is the YCS Dragon Duel Championship?
• What are the rules for 3 vs. 3 Team Duel?
• What are the rules for a Structure Deck Tournament?
• What are the rules for the Charity Tournament?
• What are the rules for Speed Duel Constructed Tournaments?
• What are the rules for Speed Duel Sealed Deck Tournaments?
• What are the rules for Speed Duel Sealed Pack Tournaments?
• What are the rules for Duel Links Tournaments?
• What is the Duelist League and what are the rules?
• What is the Public Events playoff?
• What is the Prize Wall?

Miscellaneous

• I may need assistance to participate at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series due to a disability or recent injury, what should I do?
• I want to judge at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, instead of competing as a Duelist – how can I apply?
• Will there be vendors on site so I can buy single cards and supplies and sell my cards?
• Can I buy and sell from other people at the event?
• I want to vend at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, whom should I contact?
• What is a Fan Content Area?
• What are the rules of using the Fan Content Area?
• Where can I get food and drinks during the tournament?
• When will the schedule for other Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournaments be posted?
• Can I get a CARD GAME ID (previously COSSY ID) number at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament, or will I need to have one before I attend the event?
• Will there be coverage of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?
• Are there any items I am not allowed to bring to the tournament?
• What if I lost an item at the tournament?

YCS Information

Q: How much does it cost to enter the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?

A: The entry fee for the tournament is $20.00 USD (cash only). For Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series in Canada the entry fee is $25.00 CAD (cash only). With your entry fee, you will receive five (5) booster packs of the most recent core booster release.

Q: Are there any pack prizes apart from the five packs that everyone gets?

A: 9th – 16th place will receive 24 booster packs of the most recent core booster release.  This is the only product prize, outside of the five (5) participation packs, that will be awarded.

Q: What is the format for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?

A: Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournaments are Constructed events, which means each Duelist must bring his or her own Deck to compete. Decks must be constructed per the latest Advanced Format guidelines. (See here for more information: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/limited/index.html ). The Forbidden & Limited list is updated periodically; refer to the “UPDATED” date on that page to ensure your Deck matches the current format.

Q: How many rounds will the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series have?

A: The total number of Duelists will determine the number of rounds that are played.

*For Team events, the “Number of Participants” should be replaced with “Number of Teams”.

Q: How many Duelists will advance to Day 2?

A: If there are 512 Duelists or less registered for the YCS, then the Top 32 will advance to Day 2.

If there are 513 – 1024 Duelists registered for the YCS, then the Top 128 Duelists OR all Duelists with a minimum of 16 Points, whichever number is larger, will advance to Day 2.

If there are 1025 – 2048 Duelists registered for the YCS, then the Top 128 Duelists OR all Duelists with a minimum of 19 Points, whichever number is larger, will advance to Day 2.

If there are 2049 or more Duelists registered for the YCS, then the Top 256 Duelists OR all Duelists with a minimum of 19 Points, whichever number is larger, will advance to Day 2.

*For Team events, the number of Duelists should be replaced with “Number of Teams”.

Q: How many Duelists will advance to the Top Cut?

A: If there are 2048 or less Duelists, the tournament will cut to Top 32 after all rounds of Swiss are completed.  If the Top Cut is 32 Duelists, prizes will be awarded down to 32nd place.

If there are 2049 or more Duelists, the tournament will cut to Top 64 after all rounds of Swiss are completed. If the Top Cut is 64 Duelists, prizes will be awarded down to 64th place.

*For Team events, the number of Duelists should be replaced with “Number of Teams”.

Q: What will I need to bring to a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament?

A: You should bring a tournament-legal Deck as described under “What is the format for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?,” along with any tournament supplies you will need, such as paper and pen to track Life Points, dice or counters if you are using cards which require them, extra sleeves to replace any that become damaged, and so forth.  If you have a CARD GAME ID number (formerly known as COSSY ID), you should bring your number. You should bring a form of personal identification with a picture. You’ll also need the entry fee for the tournament, as well as money for your incidentals (food, drinks, Public Events, etc.).

Q: If I’ve never been to a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament, what should I expect?

A: Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series are among the biggest of all Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments and attract Duelists of all ages and skill levels.  Many Duelists travel great distances to attend the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, so you can expect to meet hundreds of fellow Yu-Gi-Oh! fans from all over.

There are a lot of things you should do to make sure you are prepared before heading to the tournament.  
Read over the list of things you will need for the tournament, and make sure you have everything.
You’ll have a better time at the event if you don’t have too many bulky or heavy possessions to carry around, as it can get crowded there on the floor.  Think ahead while you are planning what to bring with you.

When you get to the event, you will need to register to play.  You can register on Friday from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, or you can register on the morning of the event.  If you live in the area or arrive early enough on Friday, you should register then. It will save you a lot of time the following morning.

If you need to register on the day of the event, get there early! Registration will open at 8:00 AM, and there will already be a line of people waiting. You’ll need to be in line by 9:45 AM, or you will not be able to enter the tournament when it begins. We must start without you, to make sure the event begins on time – you’ll still be able to play, but you will not be able to enter the tournament until the second round begins and you will start with a Round one Match loss.

To register, you’ll need a Registration form, a form of ID, your CARD GAME ID if you have one already, and the entry fee for the tournament.  You can get a Registration form at the event, or you can get one to print at home before the tournament by clicking on this link:

http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_RegistrationSheet.pdf

Make sure your Registration form is filled out completely before you reach the registration station. 

You will also need a CARD GAME ID card – this is the ID number used to track you in the tournament. If you don’t already have one, you will be able to get one at the tournament.

If you have a CARD GAME ID and have lost or forgotten it, you can ask the Registration station to look it up for you. If you’ve played in a previous event, they may be able to retrieve your number.

Once you have a completed Registration form and a CARD GAME ID, you can register for the tournament.

You will also need a Deck list. A Deck list is required to participate in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament.  You can get a Deck list form at the event when you register, or you can download one to fill out ahead of time by clicking on this link:

http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_DeckList.pdf

This is an editable PDF, so you will be able to type the card names in this form, which should help as your Deck list needs to be legible and complete – write the name of each card in full, and write down how many copies you have in your Deck.

• Make sure your name and CARD GAME ID are on your Deck list.
• Make sure your Deck list exactly matches your Deck.

Your Deck list will be collected at Registration. Make sure your Deck list is ready before you reach the front of the Registration line. Once a Deck list has been submitted it can no longer be changed.

Duelists are responsible for paying attention to information from judges and/or tournament staff in order to understand what is going on. If Duelists have questions about the event either beforehand or while they are there, they should check with the Event Manager.

Before heading to the event, all Duelists should read over the KDE-US Tournament Policy and Penalty Guidelines carefully.   These documents tell you what you can and cannot do at an event, and give you a good idea of what to expect.  You may find these Guidelines by clicking the following links.

• Tournament Policy:
  https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/penalty_guide/KDE-US_TCG_Tournament_Policy_v2018June01.pdf
• Penalty Guidelines:
  https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/penalty_guide/Penalty_Guidelines_v_2018June01.pdf
• Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Policy:
  https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/penalty_guide/YGO_Tournament_Policy_v_2018June01.pdf

Remember, there is much more to do at a YCS than just compete in the main tournament.  There are lots of Public Events, vendors buying and selling cards, and other Duelists to trade with. Read over the FAQ carefully, and you’ll be off to a great start.

Q: I will be bringing my children to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series.  Is there anything I should know?

A: If your child was born in 2006 or later, there is a special tournament each day just for this age group, called a Dragon Duel.  You can find more information about Dragon Duels in the Public Events section of this FAQ.

We will have a Parents’ Area available, where parents can relax while their children are occupied in the tournament.  This area is open only to parents and their children. You are not required to stay on site, but we strongly recommend that you do, especially if your children are young or this is their first event.  Please know that the tournament staff cannot be responsible for looking after your children, or their possessions. Always make sure your child has a way to contact you, and is provided with any necessities such as food, drink, or extra money if you do not wish to remain in the tournament area.

When your child is preparing for the event, encourage him or her to leave any bulky or expensive possessions at home. Electronics and large collections of cards are hard to keep track of during a big tournament – your child will have a much easier day without having to worry about these kinds of items.

Trading cards is a big attraction at large tournament, but if you are concerned about your child trading away valuable cards, talk to him or her before the event and set some guidelines. You can always have your child check with you before making a trade.

Q: Will the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series have Yu-Gi-Oh! Very Important Players (VIPs) and how do I qualify to be one?

A: Yes! We will have VIPs at the YCS. To qualify as a Yu-Gi-Oh! VIP, a Duelist needs to attend and win one of several YCS VIP Qualifier tournaments hosted by OTS before each Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series. You can find information on those qualifiers here; http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/specialevents.html.

A Duelist who wins a YCS VIP Qualifier or a UDS Invitational Champion who brings their Championship Belt to the YCS earns the following benefits as a VIP:

• FREE entry to the YCS and any participation prizes normally awarded at the time of registration (participation packs, Attribute Dice*, etc.) if applicable.
• VIP Registration. Let a line control staff member know you are a VIP and you will be escorted to the front of the line.
• Two-Round Bye at the YCS (VIPs start the tournament in Round 3 with a 2-0 record (2 Wins and 0 losses)
• Assigned seating throughout the course of the YCS Main Event in a VIP Section
• Brief Duelist Profile on the YCS Coverage Site, https://yugiohblog.konami.com/

*In order to be eligible for any Pre-Registration items, VIP must pre-register. If an item requires a Deck list to be submitted at the time of registration in order for it to be awarded, the VIP must submit a valid Deck list while registering to be eligible.

Please note that all VIPs must still register on time and be present on site during the Player Meeting. Their names will not appear on the first and second round pairings.

Q: Will the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series have the Bounty Feature?

A: Yes! We will be including the Bounty Feature forthe Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series. At the start of the tournament, a certain number of Duelists will be selected and tagged with Konami lanyards.  Each lanyard will bear a number, from 1 to 10. Each of these Bounty Duelists will begin the tournament with a stack of booster packs (4 packs per round) allotted to him or her.  So, for a 10-round tournament, the total Bounty on each Duelist would be 40 booster packs.

At the start of each round, 4 packs will be removed from each Bounty Duelist’s total and placed in their Bounty Pile. If the Bounty Duelist wins, he or she receives 2 of the packs from the Bounty Pile, leaving the rest in the pile. If the Bounty Duelist loses, the opponent claims all the packs in the Bounty Pile. At the end of each round, both the Bounty Duelist and the opponent must come up to the main stage, so the winner can collect the packs.

The longer a Bounty Duelist goes undefeated, the more packs you can win if you beat him or her. If the Bounty Duelist goes undefeated, he or she will keep all the packs in his or her Bounty. Bounty Duelists are not eliminated by a loss. Once you’ve been tagged, you are a Bounty Duelist for as long as you are participating in the event (Swiss rounds only).  The lanyard is yours to keep.

Bounty Duelists are chosen for a variety of reasons – including past performances at events, running an innovative or exciting Deck, or maybe for wearing an eye-catching hat.  Only Duelists who have pre-registered for the tournament will be selected as a Bounty Duelist. If you are chosen, you don’t have to participate if you would rather not join in.

Q: Will there be meal breaks during the tournament?

A: There will not be any meal breaks scheduled into the tournament.

Q:  What if someone who came with me does not know how to play?

A: If someone who is attending the YCS that does not know how to play Yu-Gi-Oh!, do not worry.  We will have capable staff on site who will be more than happy to teach them how to play.

Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? Updated Jun 01, 2018

A: Sometimes a Match will not be finished when the time ends for a round. If this happens, it is both Duelists’ responsibility to note whose turn it is when time is called. Duelists who require assistance with the End of Match procedures should raise their hand and call for a judge. The judge should be notified that the Match is ongoing and whose turn it is. The judge may or may not stay to supervise the End of Match procedure but should ensure that both Duelists understand the following procedures.

End of Match procedures should follow these three (3) rules:

Rule #1: If time is called while Duelists are in the middle of a Game, the current Game must have a decision (Win, Loss, or Draw)

Rule #2: Once the current Game has concluded with a decision, determine the winner of the Match by determining the number of Game Wins (or Game Losses) each Duelist has for the current Match. The Duelist with the most Game Wins will win the Match.
Swiss Rounds: If both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, or if time was called in between games of a Match when both Duelists had the same number of Game Wins, then the Match is a Draw.
Single-Elimination Rounds: If both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, or if time is called in between Games of a Match while both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, they will begin a new Duel with specific guidelines.

Rule #3: If a win condition occurs during End of Match Procedures, that Duelist wins the current Game.

Keeping these three (3) rules in mind, please follow these instructions when proceeding to End of Match procedures:

• Continue with the current Phase of the Game. Once the Phase is over, stop the game.
• Determine a Game Winner at this point, with the Duelist with the most Life Points winning the Game.
• During Swiss Rounds, if both Duelists’ Life Points are the same, the Game is a Draw. Compare Game Wins with the Duelist with the most Game Wins winning the Match. If the Game Win totals are the same, the Match is a Draw.
• During Single-Elimination, if both Duelists’ Life Points are the same at the end of the current Phase (Step 1 above), finish the current turn. If both Duelists’ Life Points are the same at the end of the turn, then play will continue on a turn-by-turn basis, with the Duelist with the most Life Points at the end of a turn being declared the winner of that Game.
• Match Draws cannot occur during Single-Elimination Rounds.

Invitations and Prizes

Q: Do I need an invitation to participate in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?

A: You do not need an invitation to participate. This event is open to all Duelists.

Q: If I am not from the United States or Canada and I win the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, do I get to play in the 2020 North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: No, you will not. If the winner does not reside in the US or Canada, he or she will not be eligible to compete in the North American World Championship Qualifier.  If the winner is from Latin American territories, they will earn an invite to compete in their regions World Championship Qualifier.  If the winner is from a territory outside of North America or Latin America, they would not be eligible to earn invites within these regions, nor within the region in which they reside.

Duelists can earn a WCQ invite through Regional Qualifiers, Dragon Duels, OTS Championships, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Tournaments in any country within North America and Latin America, but you can only compete in the World Championship Qualifier held for your Region and only for the Regions mentioned above.

If a Duelist qualifies in an event outside of their country, the invite will be awarded to the WCQ event in which their region would normally qualify for (North America and Latin America).

Q: If I qualified in a Dragon Duel tournament (for Duelists born in 2006 or later) can I play in the regular World Championship Qualifier?

A: Duelists who were born in 2006 or later are eligible to play in their World Championship Qualifier, in addition to any separate events held specifically for Duelists born in 2006 or later.

Q: What are the prizes for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?

A:

Place	Prizes
1st	Ultra Rare Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Prize Card: Duel Link Dragon, The Duel Dragon Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Trophy YCS Branded Premium Messenger Bag Nintendo Switch, Custom YCS Switch Case Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution  Invite to and VIP status at the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat 30 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, World Qualifying Points
2nd	Super Rare Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Prize Card: Duel Link Dragon, The Duel Dragon YCS Branded Premium Messenger Bag Nintendo Switch, Custom YCS Switch Case Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution  Invite to the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat 10 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, World Qualifying Points
3rd	Super Rare Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Prize Card: Duel Link Dragon, The Duel Dragon Nintendo Switch, Custom YCS Switch Case Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution  Invite to the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat 10 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, World Qualifying Points
4th	Nintendo Switch, Custom YCS Switch Case Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution  Invite to the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat 10 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, World Qualifying Points
5th-8th	Nintendo Switch, Custom YCS Switch Case Invite to the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat 10 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, World Qualifying Points
9th-16th	24 booster packs of the current booster release Invite to the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat 10 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, World Qualifying Points
17th – 32nd	Invite to the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat 10 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, World Qualifying Points

• If attendance is 2049 Duelists or more, Duelists who rank 33rd to 64th will also receive a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Top Cut Game Mat, an invite to the 2020 World Championship Qualifier tournament, 10 Ultimate Duelist Series Points, and World Qualifying Points.

**In addition to the prizes for 1st place the winner will receive complimentary travel and accommodations to their 2020 World Championship Qualifier (North America and Latin America only)

Q: What is the Top Cut Game Mat and Prize Card?

2019-2020 YCS Prize Card

2019-2020 YCS Top Cut Game Mat

Q: How and when will I receive my Invite?

A: The list of Duelists who have earned invites to their World Championship Qualifier will be posted online at. You will not receive a physical invitation, or an invitation through e-mail or postal mail – you will be entered in the invite list database. 

Information about your World Championship Qualifier will be posted online – it will not be mailed or sent to you. Duelists are responsible to verify that their name appears on the appropriate Invite List, and to access posted information about their World Championship Qualifier tournament by checking the www.yugioh-card.com/en/events page for updates.

If you have a question about your Invite status, you can e-mail us-opsupport@konami.com and ask. Please provide your full name, CARD GAME ID number, and the date and location of the event at which you qualified, along with your question, so we can answer you quickly and efficiently.

Remember that Invite status information isn’t automatically or instantly updated, so you should allow some time for results to be posted from your tournament – it can take several weeks for the data to be entered into the system and posted online. 

Q: Is travel or hotel included with my Invite?

A: Only the winner of each Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament will receive paid travel and accommodations for their respective 2020 TCG World Championship Qualifier tournament (Winners from North, South and Central America only).

Q: Is the travel and accommodation just for the winner?

A: If the first-place winner is 18 or older, the travel and accommodation is just for the individual winner.  If the first-place winner is 17 or younger at the time of then next UDS Invitational in their territory, the first-place winner would have to travel with their parent or court appointed legal guardian.  The parent or court appointed legal guardians travel and accommodations will also be provided.  Please note, if the first-place winner is 17 and under and their parent or court appointed legal guardian cannot travel with them, then they would not be eligible for the travel or accommodations

World Qualifying Points

Q: If I make the top cut will I earn World Qualifying Points at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series?

A: Yes, all the Duelists that make the top cut at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event will earn World Qualifying Points.

Q: How do I find out more information about World Qualifying Points?

A: Please see the Worlds Qualifying Points Page for the current leader board here and Frequently Asked Questions here.

Card Legality

Q: What cards are legal for play?

A: Please check the “Products” page online at https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/products.html for at the most current legality dates of Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG product releases, prior to preparing your Deck for the event.

Cards obtained as subscription promos* for Weekly SHONEN JUMP Magazine are legal one week after the Expected Delivery Date for the promo, which can be found on VIZ’s website: https://www.viz.com/wsj-promo.

(Note the two dates for each card on the website, make sure you are looking at the Expected Delivery Day). Subscription promo cards cannot be used in Sanctioned events prior to the legality date as described above, even if they are received early.

*These subscription promos are only available if you are a resident of the US or Canada, and tournament legal dates apply only to sanctioned North American events.

Q: Can I use OCG cards (cards printed for use in Japan and other Asian territories) in my Deck?

A: No, cards printed for Asian markets are not legal for play in TCG tournaments, even if you have a translation available.

Q: Can I use foreign language cards in my Deck?

A: You may use foreign-language copies of legal-for-play cards printed for the TCG market, if you can show an official translation of the card when asked to do so by an opponent or tournament official. Translations do not have to be a local language version of the card.  An official translation written down or printed is acceptable.  If you want to use a local language version of the card as your translation, you must keep that card outside of your Deck box.

Public Events

Q: What are the different types of Public Events?

A:

*Deck lists are required.
**Not all Public Events are scheduled at every YCS. Please refer to the Public Event Schedule for each YCS to see what Public Events are available.

Q: What are the point values for the Public Events?

A:

No Public Event Points are awarded to the following events:

Duelists must be present for the start of the first round of each event for which they register, in order to receive the entry points.  You cannot register in more than one event at a time. If you register for an event while you are still enrolled in a previous event, you will forfeit all Public Event points for all events in which you are simultaneously registered. 

Q: What is a Swiss Round Tournament?

A: Duelists are paired off based on each Duelist’s win/loss record. Duelists are not eliminated when they lose a Match during Swiss rounds – instead, they will continue to be paired against Duelists with similar records for all remaining rounds of the event.

Q: What is a Single-Elimination Tournament?

A: Half of the tournament is eliminated after each round – the losing Duelist is out of the tournament, while the winner goes on to the next round. This continues until only one Duelist remains, which is then declared the winner.

Q: How do I earn Ultimate Duelist Series (UDS) Points at the YCS?

A: UDS Points are awarded based on participation and/or final standings at the YCS

*UDS Points for accurately completing WCQ Invite paperwork are awarded and reflected on each Duelist’s total once a year, after the conclusion of that Region’s World Championship Qualifier.

No UDS Points are awarded for the non-UDS Qualifier Public Events held at the YCS.

For more information about UDS Points and the Ultimate Duelist Series, visit: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/ultimateduelist/index.html.

Q: What is a Dragon Duel?

A: Dragon Duel tournaments are exclusive to Duelists born before a certain calendar year, with the calendar year requirement moving forward after the World Championship each year. The current year requirement is for Duelists born on 2006 or later.

Dragon Duel tournaments are exclusive to Duelists born 2006 or later. Dragon Duels give a chance to earn an invite to the Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier. It is run using Swiss Rounds without a Top Cut playoff.

The Dragon Duels at the YCS will offer two formats, a more casual Speed Duel Sealed Tournament and a competitive Advanced Format Constructed Deck Tournament.

There is no entry fee for either Dragon Duel tournament. The sealed Speed Duel product is provided at no cost by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

Participants are required to provide proof of age to participate in a Dragon Duel (Copy of Birth Certificate, Passport, etc).

Duelists must be born in 2006 or later.

A minimum of four (4) Duelists is required to run each Dragon Duel tournament.

Q: What is the Format for the Dragon Duel Casual Sealed event?

A: Each Duelist would randomly receive a Speed Duel Starter Deck.  They would then play a normal best 2 out of 3 game matches following Speed Duel Rules (A how to play guide is included in each Starter Deck).  The Starter Decks each contain 3 different Legendary Duelist Decks, so the Duelist would switch Decks for each new game. 

• Each Duelist begins the game with 4000 Life Points
• Each Duelist begins the game with four cards as their starting hand
• The Main Deck size is 20 to 30 cards
• The Extra Deck may have a maximum of five cards
• Each Duelist has one Skill Card
• Skill Card effects do not use the chain
• Each Duelist has three Main Monster Zones, three Spell & Trap Zones, and one Field Zone.
• The Duelist going first does not draw a card on their opening turn.
• The hand size limit is six cards.
• Each Duelist may have an active Field Spell Card.
• Each Duelist may have a maximum of three copies of any card with the same name, in both the Main Deck and the Extra Deck.

For more information on Speed Dueling please see https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/speedduel/index.html

Q: What are the prizes for the Dragon Duel Casual Sealed event?

A: All Duelists receive the Speed Duel Starter Deck for the tournament and in addition, the winner will receive a Speed Duel coin.

Q: Does the Dragon Duel Casual Sealed event affect the Dragon Duel Championship Tournament?

A: No, the Casual Sealed Deck tournament does not affect the Dragon Duel Championship and also does not award any invites.

Q: What is the Advanced Format Constructed Format Dragon Duel?

A: For the Advanced Format Constructed Tournament, Decks must be constructed per the latest Advanced Format guidelines. (See here for more information: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/limited/index.html ). The Forbidden & Limited list is updated periodically; refer to the “UPDATED” date on that page to ensure your Deck matches the current format

A Deck list is required for participation in the Advanced Format Constructed Deck Dragon Duel Tournament. Dragon Duel tournaments are Tier 2 events.

Q: What are the prizes for the Advanced Format Constructed Deck Dragon Duel?

A: Top 4 Duelists in the Advanced Format Constructed Deck Dragon Duel tournament will receive a 2020 Regional Game Mat, a Dragon Duel Medal, and a Dragon Duel T-Shirt.

In addition to the prizes listed above, invites awarded in the Dragon Duel for the Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier are based off of attendance, with the top-ranking Duelists after the final round of Swiss earning an invite to the Dragon Duel WCQ.

All Duelists who earn an invite to the Dragon Duel WCQ or their guardian must fill out a copy of the 2020 WCQ Invite Form prior to receiving their prizes.  A valid e-mail address must be provided for either the Duelist or the guardian. Duelists are required to complete and submit a WCQ Invite form on site. Prizes are not awarded until after the WCQ Invite forms have been completed and properly submitted.

The winner of the Saturday Dragon Duel will not be able to participate in the Sunday Dragon Duel, but the winner from the Saturday Dragon Duel and the winner from the Sunday Dragon Duel will compete for the Dragon Duel Trophy on Sunday at 4:30 PM.

The winner from both the Saturday Advanced Constructed Deck Dragon Duel and the Sunday Advanced Constructed Deck Dragon Duel will compete for the title of YCS Dragon Duel Champion and a YCS Dragon Duel Champion Trophy.

Q: What is the YCS Dragon Duel Championship?

A: The YCS Dragon Duel Championship is a way to honor our Dragon Duelists who attend each YCS event.  The Dragon Duelist who places 1st on the Saturday Advanced Constructed Deck Dragon Duel will not be able to compete in the Advanced Constructed Deck Dragon Duel on Sunday. They do instead get a free entry into any other Public Event on that Sunday of the YCS.  At 4:30 PM on Sunday  we will take the 1st place winners of the Advanced Constructed Deck Dragon Duels from both Saturday and Sunday and have them play a best 2-out-of-3 Match using their own constructed deck.  The winner will receive the title of YCS Dragon Duel Champion, a YCS Dragon Duel Championship trophy, and a Super Rare set of the Darklord YCS Prize Cards.

Q: What are the rules for the 3 vs. 3 Team Duel event?

A: The 3 vs. 3 Team Dueling event will be Advanced Format Constructed, Single-Elimination with no Playoff Cut.

Duelists must use an uncut KDE Registration Form sheet to register for this event (3 Registration Forms per sheet). The top Duelist is automatically Duelist A, the middle is Duelist B, and the bottom is Duelist C.

Duelist A is the Team Captain and is the primary point of contact in regard to administrative purposes.

Each team must register a Team Name. The Team Name must be written on the top of the Registration Form. Team Names may not be offensive or disrespectful in any manner. Event Staff reserve the right to request a new team name if they feel the name may be inappropriate.

Here are the basic rules:

• When registering for the tournament, each team will designate one Duelist on the team to be Duelist A, one to be Duelist B, and one to be Duelist C.
  Team members must keep their team designation throughout the tournament.
• At the start of the round, Duelist A will play against Duelist A, Duelist B will play against Duelist B, and Duelist C will play against Duelist C.  Team members play as individuals – they do not share cards, Decks, Life Points, etc.
• All members of the team will play a best 2 out of 3 match.
• The team with the most Match wins gets the win for the round.

Example of play:

Team 1 (Duelist A1, Duelist B1, and Duelist C1) and Team 2 (Duelist A2, Duelist B2, and Duelist C2) play each other in Round 1.

• Duelist A1 sits across from Duelist A2, and they play each other, best 2 out of 3.
• Duelist B1 sits across from Duelist B2, and they play each other, best 2 out of 3.
• Duelist C1 sits across from Duelist C2, and they play each other, best 2 out of 3.

At the end of the Round, the teams compare Match wins.

• Duelist A1 won the Match against Duelist A2.
• Duelist B1 won the Match against Duelist B2.
• Duelist C1 lost the Match against Duelist C2.

Since Team 1 has 2 Match wins, Team 1 wins the round.

Q: What are the rules for a Structure Deck Tournament?

A:

• The eight (8) Duelists are seated across from their first-round opponent.
• Each Duelist is then given one (1) of the same sealed Structure Deck.
• The Duelists will then be given 10 minutes to look over their cards and sleeve their main Deck and Extra Deck, should they choose to do so, with tournament-legal sleeves.
• Once the above steps are completed the Duelists then will play against their first round opponent in a best 2-out of-3 match. 

Q: What are the rules for the Charity Tournament?

A: A Charity Tournament is a special Advanced Constructed format event with 4 Swiss rounds with no top cut. This is a fun tournament with great prizing to help raise money for charity.

Each Duelist will get 4 Tournament Packs for entering and will earn tournament packs as prizing based on final record. 

Duelist with a 4-0 record at the end of Swiss will get 16 Tournament Packs as prizing
Duelist with a 3-1 record at the end of Swiss will get 8 Tournament Packs as prizing
Duelist with a 2-2 record at the end of Swiss will get 4 Tournament Packs as prizing
Duelist with a 1-3 record at the end of Swiss will get 2 Tournament Packs as prizing

Please see the main event FAQ for the specific charity for each YCS.

Q: What are the rules for Speed Duel Constructed Tournaments?

A: Duelists can bring their own Speed Duel Deck and play in a Constructed Speed Duel event. Similar to above;

• Each Duelist begins the game with 4000 Life Points
• Each Duelist begins the game with four cards as their starting hand
• Skill Card effects do not use the chain
• Each Duelist has three Main Monster Zones, three Spell & Trap Zones, and one Field Zone.
• The Duelist going first does not draw a card on their opening turn.
• The hand size limit is six cards.
• Each Duelist may have an active Field Spell Card.

To build your own Constructed Speed Duel deck, you will need to follow these requirements before entering an event.

• Only cards with a Speed Duel Logo can be used in your deck
• Your Deck includes the Main Deck and may include a Side Deck and/or Extra Deck
• You may not have more than three copies of any card included in your Main Deck, Side Deck, and Extra Deck combined.
• Your Main Deck must have a minimum of 20 cards, and a maximum of 30 cards (cards in the Side and Extra Decks do not count towards this total).
• In a Constructed tournament, you may use a Side Deck consisting of 0 to 6 cards in addition to your Main Deck. Skill Cards can be included in your Side Deck.
• If you choose not to use a Skill Card during the first Duel of a Match and you have Skill Cards in your Side Deck, you may use a Skill Card from the Side Deck as part of the Side Deck process for Game 2 or Game 3.
• If you choose to use a Skill Card during the first Duel of a Match, you may opt not to use a Skill Card for subsequent Duels in the Match.
• In a Constructed Tournament, you may use an Extra Deck consisting of 0 to 6 Extra Deck Monsters.

Players can review the Speed Duel Policy Document here; https://img.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/penalty_guide/Speed_Duel_Addendum-Official_KDE-US_YGO_TCG_Policy.pdf

Q: What is the format for Speed Duel Sealed Deck Tournament?

A: Each Duelist will be seated for the tournament and receive a Speed Duel Starter Deck.  Each Starter Deck contains 3 different Legendary Hero Decks. The Duelist will then play best two of three game matches using the Speed Duel rules (a how to play guide is included in each starter deck). After each game the duelist will switch the hero deck they are using so if the match goes to game three each duelist will have used all 3 of their Legendary Hero Decks.

• Each Duelist begins the game with 4000 Life Points
• Each Duelist begins the game with four cards as their starting hand
• The Main Deck size is 20 to 30 cards
• The Extra Deck may have a maximum of five cards
• Each Duelist has one Skill Card
• Skill Card effects do not use the chain
• Each Duelist has three Main Monster Zones, three Spell & Trap Zones, and one Field Zone.
• The Duelist going first does not draw a card on their opening turn.
• The hand size limit is six cards.
• Each Duelist may have an active Field Spell Card.
• Each Duelist may have a maximum of three copies of any card with the same name, in both the Main Deck and the Extra Deck.

Players can review the Speed Duel Policy Document here; https://img.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/penalty_guide/Speed_Duel_Addendum-Official_KDE-US_YGO_TCG_Policy.pdf

Q: What are the rules for Speed Duel Sealed Pack Tournaments?

A: In a Speed Duel Sealed Pack event, Duelists will be seated by a Judge and all Duelists will receive 10 Speed Duel Booster Packs. Duelists will then be given time to open these packs and build a Speed Duel deck using on the cards opened from the packs provided. (a Skill Card will be provided if none are opened)

• Each Duelist begins the game with 4000 Life Points
• Each Duelist begins the game with four cards as their starting hand
• Skill Card effects do not use the chain
• Each Duelist has three Main Monster Zones, three Spell & Trap Zones, and one Field Zone.
• The Duelist going first does not draw a card on their opening turn.
• The hand size limit is six cards.
• Each Duelist may have an active Field Spell Card.
• Minimum Main Deck Size is 20 Cards, there is no maximum Main Deck size.
• There is no restriction on the number of any specific card in the Deck. You may include more than 3 copies of any card as long as those cards were obtained from the packs provided to you.
• All cards not included in your Main Deck from your pool of cards may be treated as the Side Deck
• Any Extra Deck Monsters not in the Side Deck may be treated as the Extra Deck.

 Players can review the Speed Duel Policy Document here; https://img.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/penalty_guide/Speed_Duel_Addendum-Official_KDE-US_YGO_TCG_Policy.pdf

Q: What are the Rules for Duel Links Tournaments?

A: This event allows you to bring your device and connect to others on site for a Duel Links format, Single Elimination event. Test your Deck builds in a Duel using the latest Duel Links Forbidden and Limited restrictions to compete for a Duel Links Game Mat.
Instructions on how the competitors can connect to the in-game Tournament Room will be provided once you are seated for the events.

Q: What is the Duelist League and what are the rules?

A: The Duelist League is intended for younger Duelists or Duelists that are not familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments.  The Duelist League gives them a chance to experience tournament play without all the pressures found in higher level tournaments.

The Duelist League is an Advanced Format, Constructed event only playing 3 Rounds of Swiss with no Top Cut. At the end of the rounds of Swiss the Duelist ranked in 1st place will get to choose 2 Duelist League Rare cards from a random assortment.  Then from order of 2nd to 8th place those Duelists will get to choose 1 Duelist League Rare card.

Q: What is the Public Events playoff?

A: The Public Events playoff gives eight (8) hopeful Duelists a chance to win their very own copy of the coveted YCS Prize Card! There are two different playoffs, each of which awards the YCS Prize Card to the winner.

Playoff 1: The four (4) Duelists who have accumulated the highest number of Public Event points will play two rounds of Single-Elimination to determine a winner, who will receive a Super Rare copy of the YCS Prize Card. In case of a tie in total points, the selection will be made by random drawing from the tied competitors.

Playoff 2:  Four (4) names will be drawn at random from all Public Events entrants over the course of the weekend. These four (4) Duelists will then play two rounds of Single-Elimination to determine a winner, who will receive a Super Rare copy of the YCS Prize Card.

Q. What is the Prize Wall?

A: The Prize Wall is an extension of public events! In addition to earning prizes for participating in these tournaments, Duelists will also receive prize tickets. You can spend these prize tickets at the Prize Wall for items offered. These items are subject to change, and to availability.

How do I earn Prize Tickets?

Each time you sign up for a public event you will receive a prize ticket, and additional prize tickets will be distributed to the top finishers. The number of tickets awarded for doing well depends on the type of tournament.

*Duelist League does not award Prize Wall tickets*

Prize tickets can be taken to the Prize Wall, which offers a selection of items similar to what you can win by playing in Public Event tournaments.
Additionally, prize tickets have no monetary value, and are not for sale.
Prize tickets can only be redeemed at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event at which they were earned, the cannot be used at a future event.

Miscellaneous

Q: I may need assistance to participate at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series due to a disability or recent injury, what should I do?

A: Please refer to the Events Page on the website for the specific YCS location and contact the Event Coordinator or Tournament Organizer to make them aware of your concerns so that between them and the Konami Representatives, you can be provided with a comfortable gaming experience.

If you require assigned seating on site, please notify a registration staff member at the time of registration.  

Q: I want to judge at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, instead of competing as a Duelist – how can I apply?

A: If you’re interested in judging at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, please email KDE’s Judge Manager at us-judgesupport@konami.com.  We are always on the lookout for judges – please provide your full name, contact information including email and phone number, and a description of your previous judging experience. YCS Event Managers are not responsible for organizing the judge staff, so you will need to contact KDE-US directly if you want to judge.

Potential judges are required to hold RC-1 certification and be registered as judges in the KDE Judge Program to judge at a YCS.  All potential judges must pass the online Rulings Comprehension Level 1 test, and then complete an online application to join the Judge Program. You can find information about the test, and a link to take it, here:  http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/judges/index.html

Q: Will there be vendors on site so I can buy single cards and supplies and sell my cards?

A: There will be several vendors present, selling single cards, sealed product, and card supplies such as sleeves and deck boxes.  Vendors will also be buying cards on site.

Q: Can I buy and sell from other people at the event?

A: Duelists are not allowed to buy or sell from one another at Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series venues. If you do so, you risk incurring penalties, including being disqualified and removed from the event.

Buying and selling includes all items, not just cards or gaming supplies.

Trading is restricted to cards and Yu-Gi-Oh! related item such as playmats and dice – attendees may not bring other merchandise or items to the venue for trading.

Attendees may not solicit business, hand out flyers, etc., while at the venue.

The Tournament Organizer reserves the right to limit the number of cards that can be brought into the venue for trading.

Q: I want to vend at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, who should I contact?

A: Vending space is available free of charge at Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series venues, but is only available to Official Tournament Stores in good standing. Vendors must meet certain requirements and agree to abide by set guidelines. Interested vendors should email us-opsupport@konami.com with the header “Request to Vend at [name and location of event].”  Vendors will be required to complete and apply for each event at which they wish to vend.   Keep in mind that KDE handles the applications for vending at Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series events, and not the Tournament Organizer.

Cash transactions with anyone other than an approved vendor at an approved location are prohibited at Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series events.  Attendees who conduct cash transactions, such as selling of cards or product, to anyone other than an approved vendor at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event risk penalties including disqualification and expulsion from the venue.

Anyone buying and/or selling as an unauthorized vendor at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series venue may also risk incurring penalties, including but not limited to, being disqualified and removed from the event, suspensions from Konami Organized Play, and suspension as an Official Tournament Store.

Q: What is a Fan Content Area?

A: For those of you who enjoy posting your own photos and videos on Social Media, we’re setting up a special Fan Content Area at the YCS. Want to make a video about your experience? A Deck Profile video with someone in the Top Cut or who has an interesting deck? Interview other players? There will be a dedicated space for you to do just that at the YCS. Table space and backdrops are provided for those wishing to use the Fan Content Area.

Q: What are the rules of using the Fan Content Area?

A: Those wishing to make use of the Fan Content Area will be required to review the posted guidelines and sign up to use the area onsite. Sessions in the Fan Content Area are 15 minutes long, though you can come back several times throughout the weekend. People are not to film their own content within the Hall except by using the Fan Content Area. Full details will be available at the event!

Q: Where can I get food and drinks during the tournament?

A: There will be food and drinks available either from an onsite vendor or one near the venue.

Q: When will the schedule for other Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournaments be posted?

A: For updated information on this event and other events as they become finalized, keep checking www.yugioh-card.com/en/events . There is no set time frame for these announcements; they will be made as the information becomes available.

Q: Can I get a CARD GAME ID (previously COSSY ID) number at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament, or will I need to have one before I attend the event?

A: If you previously had a COSSY ID, that same number will carry over as your CARD GAME ID. You will still need to register online at https://cardgame-network.konami.net/.

If you do not remember your previous 10-digit ID, a registration staff member on-site should be able to assist in finding your correct ID. Duelists should avoid acquiring new CARD GAME IDs if the previous ID can be found.

If you do not have a CARD GAME ID number, you can get one by registering online at https://cardgame-network.konami.net/.

Duelists are not required to have their actual CARD GAME ID card to participate, though it is encouraged.

Q: Are there any items I am not allowed to bring to the tournament?

A: Attendees may not bring any items into the tournament venue that are prohibited by law in their area (local, state, or federal). In addition, unlawful items/transactions, weapons of any kind, and substance drugs which may be illegal on a local, state, and/or federal level, are not allowed at Sanctioned/Official events. Attendees who bring any such items to a tournament venue will incur penalties, including Disqualification and removal from the event, and risk suspension from KDE Organized Play.

The use of electronic and/or vapor cigarettes are not permitted on the tournament floor at any Sanctioned/Official events, or in areas designated for tournament attendees.

Q: What if I lost an item at the tournament?

A: Duelists are responsible for looking after their own belongings at the event. Konami Digital Entertainment, Tournament Organizers, Staff, and Judges bear no responsibility for, and cannot be held liable for, any loss, theft or damage to the person or personal property of any attendee.

The Tournament Organizer is required to keep lost and found items for at least 60 days after the conclusion of the Event. Duelists who lost items should seek the Lost & Found on-site. If the item is not found on-site, Duelists are encouraged to contact the Tournament Organizer within the 60-day period on the chance the lost item has been turned in. Tournament Organizer contact information can be found on the FAQ for the specific YCS event on the website.